Jackie Chan, a martial arts legend, has expressed respect for and a desire to join the Chinese Communist Party, but other Chinese citizens have declared he is not welcome. On social media, several people have claimed that he has cheated on his wife and that his son has used drugs, both of which would bar him from membership.
Chan stated his desire in joining the China Film Association at a seminar held in Beijing last Thursday. Chan told a gathering of guests at the symposium in a video uploaded by M Video News, an entity under official broadcaster Central China Television, that when he's abroad, he often declares he's "proud of being Chinese."
“I also envy you being members of the Communist Party; I think the Communist Party is fantastic; whatever the Communist Party says or promises, it will always be fulfilled within a few decades,” he remarked.
To tremendous applause, he continued, beaming, "I want to be a Communist Party member, thank you."
His statements, however, were promptly mocked on Weibo, with some declaring him unworthy of party membership.
“I have no doubt about his patriotism and professionalism,” one person observed, “but his lifestyle... our party members need to set a positive example.”
Another added, "He's probably not serious, he's just acting on different occasions."
Chan's prior extramarital affair, as well as his son Jaycee Chan's drug offense and six months in prison on the mainland, were referenced in the online "lifestyle" comments.
In 1999, Chan had an affair with Hong Kong actress Elaine Ng, with whom he shares a daughter, Etta.
Chan's comments on Twitter outraged his supporters outside of China, who believed they were made to appease Beijing and allow him to market his films there.
“I regret every good thought I ever had about Jackie Chan and wish I could un-enjoy every single one of his films!” one exclaimed.
The South China Morning Post reached out to Chan for an interview, but he did not answer.
The Hong Kong-born actor is most known for his kung fu films, which include the Rush Hour franchise.
His Beijing loyalist views and dismissals of the pro-democracy movement, on the other hand, have in the past sparked fan reaction.
The 67-year-old is a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, a Beijing-based legislative advisory body dominated by Communist Party members.
Chan sang a rendition of the patriotic classic Defending the Yellow River, created during the Second Sino-Japanese War, at the Communist Party's centenary celebration at the Bird's Nest National Stadium on July 1.
Chan spoke up on the Hong Kong protests in a 2019 interview with state-owned television network CGTN, calling them "sad and depressing" and expressing hope that Hong Kong "can return to peace soon."
In 2009, Chan was chastised for remarks about the pro-democracy movement. He commented at the time, "I'm not sure if it's good to have freedom or not." “I'm completely perplexed right now. If you're too free, you'll end up like Hong Kong. It's a shambles. Taiwan is likewise a turbulent place.”
